FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The biggest and most inclusive marathon yet
The 2024 TCS London Marathon is set to be the biggest ever with more than
50,000 finishers and more than 500,000 children and young people taking
part in the TCS Mini London Marathon and TCS Mini London Marathon in
schools.
Hugh Brasher, Event Director of the TCS London Marathon, said: "What we
have is an incredible event and one that is more inclusive than before. We
are supporting more than 200 disabled participants on the day. A new
initiative we are trialling this year, with a view to expanding further in
2026."
Hugh also mentioned a number of initiatives to make all runners feel
supported on Event Day. A reflection space will be available in the Finish
Area of the 2024 TCS London Marathon. This will be split into two different
spaces - a faith space and a quiet space.
The quiet space is for neurodivergent participants who might feel
overwhelmed by the crowds. The faith space is open to any religion or for
anyone who needs time to reflect. There are female urinals, and sanitary
products available for anyone who needs them. There is also a family
support area which includes a private breastfeeding area.
Parity in the wheelchair field
In February, the TCS London Marathon became the first marathon in the world
to make its prize money for disabled and able-bodied athletes exactly the
same. All winners in the 2024 elite races will receive $55,000 (£44,000),
with the runner-up earning $30,000 (£24,000) and third place earning
$22,500 (£18,000).
Hugh said: "It's a hugely important moment not only for wheelchair racing
but to help people stop and think about how we can make society fairer."
On the wheelchair elite field, Hugh said: "Incredibly, we have David Weir
competing for the 25th consecutive year. He has a brand new wheelchair, the
same as Marcel Hug, and is in the best form of his life. You might have
also seen that Eden Rainbow-Cooper, who won the Boston Marathon on Monday,
is also competing."
You can view the full wheelchair elite field here.
Remembering Kelvin Kiptum
In February, the reigning TCS London Marathon champion, Kelvin Kiptum, died
alongside his coach in a car accident.
Hugh said: "We are very sadly without our male defending champion Kelvin
Kiptum who was tragically killed earlier this year. We will mourn not being
able to understand the man he was or would be."
There will be a tribute to Kiptum before the elite men's race at 10:00 on
Sunday 21 April. TCS London Marathon announcer Geoff Wightman will
celebrate his short but impactful life. There will be thirty seconds of
applause followed by a video, which will be broadcast by the BBC.
"I am predicting a women's-only world record."
All eyes will be on the elite women's race as three of the top four fastest
women in history - Tigst Assefa, Brigid Kosgei and Ruth Chepngetich - go
after a new women's-only world record.
The record stands at 2:17:01, set by Mary Keitany at the 2017 London
Marathon, and it's a star-studded field of women who will be vying to break
it.
Hugh said: "We have seven women who have run under 2 hours 17 minutes and
30 seconds and no race in the history of our sport has had that."
Jasmin Paris, the first woman to complete the ultra-endurance Barkley
Marathons, will start the elite women's race at 09:25 on Sunday 21 April.
Sustainability
In 2023, the TCS London Marathon became the first major event in the UK to
be awarded Gold certification by the Council for Responsible Sport, the
world's leading sustainability certification programme dedicated to sports
events and organisations. But this is just the start of the sustainability
journey.
London Marathon Events is working hard on new initiatives. Hugh said:
"There is power in people making small changes and when they are done
collectively it can make a difference."
Hugh highlighted three initiatives:
- Finisher medals are made from recycled zinc.
- Participants can opt out of a T-shirt and instead choose to have a tree
planted by Trees Not Tees.
- A carbon levy for international participants to help compensate for
greenhouse gas emissions associated with overseas travel.
You can read more about how we are managing our environmental impact here.
Celebrity Runners
There are a number of famous faces joining the masses. Top comedians Romesh
Ranganathan, Rosie Jones, Ivo Graham, Maisie Adams and Joel Dommett have
swapped Stand-up for the Start Line.
Russ Cook, known as the ‘Hardest Geezer', is set to join the masses just
two weeks after running the length of Africa. He will be running with a
group of young people from The Running Charity.
EastEnders stars Emma Barton and Jamie Borthwick, or as you better know
them, Honey and Jay, will be running in character, as part of a plotline
which sees them running in memory of Jay's wife, Lola.
You can view the full list of celebrity runners here.
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